Aberdeen to trial alcohol sales at Scottish Premiership match

Aberdeen Football Club has been granted a licence to sell alcohol to fans inside Pittodrie at a Scottish Premiership match next month.

Home supporters will be able to buy alcoholic drinks in the lower concourse of the Richard Donald Stand before kick-off in the game against Kilmarnock on 14 December.

Fans will not be able to drink within sight of the pitch and sales will be stopped before the match gets under way. It is part of a pilot scheme to see how alcohol sales could be safely incorporated into the matchday experience.

Alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish football stadiums since 1981.

Aberdeen are the first club from Scotland's top division to take part in the scheme.

Championship side St Johnstone will also trial alcohol sales during matches against Queen's Park on Saturday and Greenock Morton on 20 December.

In a statement, Aberdeen said the initiative had been approved by Aberdeen City Council.

The club said the pilot was designed to "gather insight into how a carefully managed approach to alcohol sales can support a positive and safe matchday experience for supporters".

They added: "Sales will be managed in full accordance with licensing laws, with appropriate security and stewarding in place.

"Supporters are reminded that alcohol may only be consumed within clearly designated areas and not in sight of the pitch, and all sales will take place in clearly defined, monitored areas of the stadium. Matchday operations, stewarding and safety planning will remain consistent with our usual high standards."

At McDiarmid Park, home and away fans will be able to purchase alcohol from a pop-up gazebo at the rear of the East Stand prior to the 15:00 kick offs.

Sales will be open between 14:00 and 14:45 and during half time of the matches.

As at Aberdeen, drinks cannot be consumed within view of the pitch.

It follows similar trials during Premier Sports Cup matches at Arbroath, Ayr United, Queen of the South and Stirling Albion prior to the start of the league season.

Alcohol has been prohibited in Scottish football stadiums for 44 years.

The ban was initially imposed following a riot during the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden.

The ban does not cover hospitality sections within stadia.

The Scottish government and Police Scotland previously said they would consider lifting the alcohol ban in March.

Fans have previously called for football supporters to be under the same rules as their rugby equivalents, who are able to drink during matches.

The Scottish government has been contacted for comment.

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